Population 98,323 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Compton: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Compton
Household size in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.02 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 4.09 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 4.03 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.87 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Compton are large by national standards, averaging 3.87 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has dropped from 4.02 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 40 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.0 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.3 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.0 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Compton is young: half of its residents are under 34.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 28.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 23.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Compton: 18.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 7.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Compton has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Compton
Renters in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.1% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.8% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 43.3% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.1% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Compton rent their homes (41.1%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in the Los Angeles area overall (51.6%). About three in ten owners (30.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Compton: just 5.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. That is in line with the rest of the Los Angeles area. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.9 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1955 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Compton is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northwest has the oldest housing. Only 38 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $991 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,137 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,295 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,764 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$773 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Compton costs $1,764 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the Los Angeles area overall ($2,279). Rents are up $773 a month from 2006–10, a 78% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 36.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Compton
Bachelor's degrees in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Compton: 11.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 68 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 60.6% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 61.5% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 63.2% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 66.9% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in Compton never finished high school, well above the national share: only 66.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 6.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 68 have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Compton
| Period | Compton | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Compton: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Compton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compton | 3.87 | 34.3 | 18.6% | 41.1% | 5.6% | 1959 | $1,764 | 11.3% | 66.9% | 7.8% |
| Willowbrook | 3.57 | 36.0 | 19.0% | 48.2% | 5.2% | 1961 | $1,611 | 12.2% | 62.1% | 11.3% |
| East Rancho Dominguez | 4.31 | 34.6 | 19.6% | 46.0% | 3.7% | 1952 | $1,748 | 6.6% | 54.2% | 8.1% |
| Lynwood | 4.17 | 34.3 | 24.4% | 52.4% | 4.4% | 1954 | $1,658 | 10.6% | 59.8% | 9.5% |
| Paramount | 3.63 | 34.6 | 18.9% | 57.6% | 2.0% | 1970 | $1,907 | 14.8% | 67.8% | 5.7% |
| South Gate | 3.69 | 36.3 | 18.1% | 54.6% | 3.3% | 1953 | $1,615 | 11.2% | 59.5% | 7.5% |
| Gardena | 2.91 | 40.2 | 15.1% | 49.8% | 5.2% | 1964 | $1,887 | 28.3% | 80.1% | 6.4% |
| West Athens | 3.22 | 36.0 | 20.0% | 43.7% | 4.2% | 1967 | $1,697 | 23.7% | 82.3% | 8.7% |
| Carson | 3.49 | 42.7 | 13.3% | 26.0% | 5.3% | 1966 | $2,228 | 29.5% | 84.7% | 7.3% |
| Florence-Graham | 4.21 | 32.3 | 26.3% | 64.0% | 4.4% | 1952 | $1,558 | 7.6% | 48.0% | 9.2% |
| Westmont | 3.40 | 33.0 | 28.1% | 71.7% | 6.9% | 1955 | $1,443 | 13.3% | 71.1% | 10.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Glendale, CA · Green Bay, WI · Hagerstown, MD · Greer, SC · Greenville, NC · Greensboro, NC · Hampton, VA · Glen Burnie, MD · Costa Mesa, CA · Denver, CO
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Compton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.